Synergy of In Situ and Satellite Ocean Observations in Determining Meridional Heat Transport in the Atlantic Ocean

Dong, Shenfu; Goñi, Gustavo; Domingues, Ricardo; Bringas, Francis; Góes, Marlos; Christophersen, Jonathan; Baringer, Molly O.

doi:10.1029/2020jc017073

Cited by 13 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…This suggests that different mechanisms (wind forcing, buoyancy forcing, and internal ocean dynamics) are responsible for driving the observed fluctuations at different latitudes. A well-defined AMOC and MHT seasonal cycle was found between 20 and 34.5°S, with the largest amplitudes (4 Sv and 0.3 PW, respectively) at 34.5°S 57,165 . While these records indicate that there is no MHT coherence between the South and North Atlantic on interannual time-scales, northward propagation of large MHT anomalies from 34.5 to 20°S with a 9-month lead time were found, thus expanding our understanding of the latitudinal connectivity of the AMOC system 57 .…”

Section: Box 1 | Observing the Overturning Circulation In The South A...mentioning

confidence: 86%

“…Time-mean estimates of the upper AMOC cell and full-depth MHT at various latitudes determined from trans-basin shipboard data and also a ~30-year (1993-present) blended product of in situ and satellite observations (Table 2) exhibit a wide range of northward volume transport values ranging from 11.7 to 28.0 Sv 126,164 with MHT ranging from 0.27 to 0.92 PW 56,164 and large standard deviations ranging from 1.4 to 4.6 Sv and from 0.10 to 0.22 PW, respectively 56,164 . Concurrent AMOC estimates at multiple latitudes reveal that both the variability of AMOC and MHT decrease northward from 34.5 to 20°S 19,57,164,165 (Fig. 4d, e).…”

Section: Box 1 | Observing the Overturning Circulation In The South A...mentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Multi-decade time series of AMOC volume and heat transports have been derived at various latitudes in the South Atlantic using satellite altimetry measurements combined with in situ data from Argo profiling floats, XBTs, and/or CTDs 57,164,165,239 . A sea surface temperature-based AMOC proxy was also developed 252 , which allows for analysis of monthly AMOC variability from the early 1870s to the present at multiple latitudes in the South Atlantic, providing an observation-based glimpse of long-term AMOC variations.…”

Section: Box 1 | Observing the Overturning Circulation In The South A...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite some dynamical differences at 11°S and 34.5°S, the amplitude of the seasonal cycles observed by the two arrays is comparable 97,98 . The ~30-year AMOC and MHT records produced from the blended in situ and satellite observations show that the relative importance of the geostrophic and Ekman components driving AMOC and MHT fluctuations vary with both time-scale and latitude between 20 and 34.5°S 57,165 . This suggests that different mechanisms (wind forcing, buoyancy forcing, and internal ocean dynamics) are responsible for driving the observed fluctuations at different latitudes.…”

Section: Box 1 | Observing the Overturning Circulation In The South A...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The South Atlantic Ocean plays a unique role in the global overturning circulation because it is the only ocean basin with a net equatorward heat transport 2,7,16,[51][52][53][54][55][56][57] , and it is the basin where the AMOC upper and abyssal cells interact the most (Fig. 1).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Energetic overturning flows, dynamic interocean exchanges, and ocean warming observed in the South Atlantic

Chidichimo

Perez

Speich

et al. 2023

Commun Earth Environ

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Since the inception of the international South Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation initiative in the 21st century, substantial advances have been made in observing and understanding the Southern Hemisphere component of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Here we synthesize insights gained into overturning flows, interocean exchanges, and water mass distributions and pathways in the South Atlantic. The overturning circulation in the South Atlantic uniquely carries heat equatorward and exports freshwater poleward and consists of two strong overturning cells. Density and pressure gradients, winds, eddies, boundary currents, and interocean exchanges create an energetic circulation in the subtropical and tropical South Atlantic Ocean. The relative importance of these drivers varies with the observed latitude and time scale. AMOC, interocean exchanges, and climate changes drive ocean warming at all depths, upper ocean salinification, and freshening in the deep and abyssal ocean in the South Atlantic. Long-term sustained observations are critical to detect and understand these changes and their impacts.

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Section: Box 1 | Observing the Overturning Circulation In The South A...mentioning

confidence: 86%

Section: Box 1 | Observing the Overturning Circulation In The South A...mentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Box 1 | Observing the Overturning Circulation In The South A...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Box 1 | Observing the Overturning Circulation In The South A...mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Energetic overturning flows, dynamic interocean exchanges, and ocean warming observed in the South Atlantic

Chidichimo

Perez

Speich

et al. 2023

Commun Earth Environ

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Opportunities for Earth Observation to Inform Risk Management for Ocean Tipping Points

Wood,

Baker,

Beaugrand

et al. 2024

Surv Geophys

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As climate change continues, the likelihood of passing critical thresholds or tipping points increases. Hence, there is a need to advance the science for detecting such thresholds. In this paper, we assess the needs and opportunities for Earth Observation (EO, here understood to refer to satellite observations) to inform society in responding to the risks associated with ten potential large-scale ocean tipping elements: Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation; Atlantic Subpolar Gyre; Beaufort Gyre; Arctic halocline; Kuroshio Large Meander; deoxygenation; phytoplankton; zooplankton; higher level ecosystems (including fisheries); and marine biodiversity. We review current scientific understanding and identify specific EO and related modelling needs for each of these tipping elements. We draw out some generic points that apply across several of the elements. These common points include the importance of maintaining long-term, consistent time series; the need to combine EO data consistently with in situ data types (including subsurface), for example through data assimilation; and the need to reduce or work with current mismatches in resolution (in both directions) between climate models and EO datasets. Our analysis shows that developing EO, modelling and prediction systems together, with understanding of the strengths and limitations of each, provides many promising paths towards monitoring and early warning systems for tipping, and towards the development of the next generation of climate models.

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Exploring the AMOC Connectivity Between the RAPID and OSNAP Lines With a Model‐Based Data Set

Han

2023

Geophysical Research Letters

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Two major trans‐basin mooring arrays, the Rapid Climate Change‐Meridional Overturning Circulation and Heatflux Array (RAPID) at 26.5°N since 2004 and the Overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic Program (OSNAP) situated at 53°–60°N since 2014, have been continuously monitoring the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). This study explores the connectivity of AMOC across these two mooring lines from a novel adiabatic perspective utilizing a model‐based data set. The findings unveil significant in‐phase connections facilitated by the adiabatic basinwide redistribution of water between the two lines on a monthly timescale. This adiabatic mode is a possible cause for the observed subpolar AMOC seasonality by OSNAP. Furthermore, the Labrador Sea was identified as a hotspot for adiabatic forcing of the overturning circulations, primarily attributed to its dynamic isopycnal movements.

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Synergy of In Situ and Satellite Ocean Observations in Determining Meridional Heat Transport in the Atlantic Ocean

Cited by 13 publications

References 57 publications

Energetic overturning flows, dynamic interocean exchanges, and ocean warming observed in the South Atlantic

Energetic overturning flows, dynamic interocean exchanges, and ocean warming observed in the South Atlantic

Opportunities for Earth Observation to Inform Risk Management for Ocean Tipping Points

Exploring the AMOC Connectivity Between the RAPID and OSNAP Lines With a Model‐Based Data Set

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